Object oriented framework architecture for sensing and/or control environments

Abstract

An object oriented framework architecture for sensing and/or control environments includes a set of sensing and/or control subsystems; a framework and interface system; a network; and a managing server system. The framework and interface system includes signal exchange modules that communicate with sensing and/or control elements; an expansion bus; and a client computer system. A framework services module within the client computer system retrieves configuration information that characterizes signal exchange modules. The framework services module automatically configures hardware interface modules for communicating with signal exchange modules, and maps signal exchange modules' hardware signals to corresponding events. An event may include an event identifier and a data value. The framework services module exchanges events with application software withinin the managing server system, and exchanges hardware signals with signal exchange modules monitoring or controlling sensing and/or control elements. The framework services module disassociates application software from signal exchange module hardware configuration details.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system comprising: 
 a hardware subsystem that includes at least one component adapted to carry an electrical signal associated with one from the group of a sensing operation and a control operation;    a computer network;    a software component coupled to the computer network and providing an application process corresponding to the hardware subsystem; and    a translation interface coupled to the hardware subsystem and the computer network, the translation interface communicating with the hardware subsystem in accordance with the electrical signal, and communicating with the software component in accordance with an event code that corresponds to the electrical signal.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer network comprises one from the group of a Local Area Network, a Wide Area Network, and the Internet.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the translation interface comprises a computer system.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first computer system in which the software component resides, wherein the translation interface comprises a second computer system.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the translation interface comprises: 
 a signal exchange module coupled to the hardware subsystem; and    a computer system coupled to the signal exchange module and the computer network.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the translation interface comprises: 
 a signal exchange module coupled to the hardware subsystem; and  
 a computer system coupled to the signal exchange module and the computer network,  
 wherein the signal exchange module comprises a card adapted to plug into a standard bus interface.  
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the translation interface comprises: 
 a signal exchange module coupled to the hardware subsystem; and    a computer system coupled to the signal exchange module and the computer network,    wherein the signal exchange module comprises a mezzanine bus card.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the translation interface comprises: 
 a signal exchange module coupled to the hardware subsystem; and    a computer system coupled to the signal exchange module and the computer network,    wherein the signal exchange module comprises an Industry Pack module.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the translation interface comprises: 
 a signal exchange module coupled to the hardware subsystem;    a computer system coupled to the computer network; and    an expansion bus coupled to the signal exchange module and the computer system.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing configuration information corresponding to the signal exchange module.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing configuration information corresponding to the signal exchange module and the event code.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing information that facilitates communication between the translation interface and the hardware subsystem.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing information that facilitates communication between the translation interface and the hardware subsystem and storing the event code.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the translation interface comprises a signal exchange module coupled to the hardware subsystem, the signal exchange module including a storage element for storing a hardware signal corresponding to the electrical signal.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing configuration information corresponding to the signal exchange module, and    wherein the translation interface further comprises a configuration module coupled to retrieve configuration information from the signal database and generate an interface module that facilitates communication between the signal exchange module and the hardware subsystem.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing configuration information corresponding to the signal exchange module, and    wherein the translation interface further comprises:    a configuration module coupled to retrieve configuration information from the signal database and generate an interface module that facilitates communication between the signal exchange module and the hardware subsystem; and    an event coding-decoding module coupled to map between the electrical signal and the event code.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing configuration information corresponding to the signal exchange module, and    wherein the translation interface further comprises:    a configuration module coupled to retrieve configuration information from the signal database and generate an interface module that facilitates communication between the signal exchange module and the hardware subsystem;    an event coding-decoding module coupled to map between the electrical signal and the event code; and    an interprocess communication module coupled to manage event-based communication with the software component.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing configuration information corresponding to the signal exchange module,    wherein the translation interface further comprises:    a local memory;    a configuration module coupled to retrieve configuration information from the signal database and generate an interface module that facilitates communication between the signal exchange module and the hardware subsystem;    an event coding-decoding module coupled to map between the electrical signal and the event code;    an interprocess communication module coupled to manage event-based communication with the software component; and    a memory mapping module that associates the storage element with an address in the local memory.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database including configuration information corresponding to the hardware subsystem.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database including configuration information corresponding to the hardware subsystem and an event code definition associating the event code with the electrical signal.  
     
     
         21 . A system comprising: 
 a plurality of hardware subsystems, each hardware subsystem including at least one component adapted to carry an electrical signal associated with one from the group of a sensing operation and a control operation;    a computer network;    a set of software components coupled to the computer network, the set of software components providing an application process corresponding to the plurality of hardware subsystems; and    a set of translation interfaces, each translation interface coupled to at least one hardware subsystem and the computer network, each translation interface communicating with each hardware subsystem coupled thereto in accordance with an electrical signal associated with the hardware subsystem, each translation interface communicating with the set of software components in accordance with a plurality of event codes, each event code corresponding to an electrical signal associated with a hardware subsystem.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer network comprises one form the group of a Local Area Network, a Wide Area Network, and the Internet.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a computer system in which the set of software components resides.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a first computer system in which the set of software components resides, 
 wherein a translation interface comprises a second computer system.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing information that facilitates communication between each translation interface and the hardware subsystems coupled thereto.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a signal database coupled to the computer network, the signal database storing information that facilitates communication between each translation interface and the hardware subsystems coupled thereto, and storing a plurality of event code definitions.  
     
     
         27 . A method of configuring a system, the system including an application software program, a signal database, a translation interface, and a hardware subsystem adapted to carry a set of electrical signals, each electrical signal corresponding to one from the group of a sensing signal and a control signal, the method comprising the steps of: 
 generating a set of signal database entries defining a translation interface hardware configuration capable of communicating with the hardware subsystem;    retrieving translation interface hardware configuration information from the signal database; and    generating a software interface using the retrieved hardware configuration information, the software interface facilitating communication between the translation interface and the hardware subsystem in accordance with the electrical signal.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein translation interface comprises a set of signal exchange elements, and wherein the hardware configuration represents a signal exchange element configuration within the translation interface, each signal exchange element coupled to the hardware subsystem.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of generating the set of signal database entries further comprises the generation of a set of event code definitions, each event code definition specifying an event code corresponding to an electrical signal.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of communicating with the hardware subsystem in accordance with the electrical signal and communicating with the application software program in accordance with an event code corresponding to the translation interface hardware configuration.  
     
     
         31 . In a system comprising an application software program, a computer network, a translation interface, and a hardware subsystem adapted to carry an electrical signal corresponding to one from the group of a sensing signal and a control signal, a method of performing one from the group of a sensing operation and a control operation comprising the steps of: 
 receiving the electrical signal at the translation interface;    determining an event code corresponding to the electrical signal; and    communicating the event code over the computer network to the application software program.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the computer network comprises one from the group of a Local Area Network, a Wide Area Network, and the Internet.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining an event value corresponding to a value of the electrical signal; and    communicating the event value over the computer network to the application software program.    
     
     
         34 . In a system comprising an application software program, a computer network, a translation interface, and a hardware subsystem adapted to carry a plurality of electrical signals, each electrical signal corresponding to one from the group of a sensing signal and a control signal, a method of performing one from the group of a sensing operation and a control operation comprising the steps of: 
 receiving at the translation interface an event code from the application program over a computer network;    determining an electrical signal to which the event code corresponds; and    communicating the determined electrical signal to the hardware subsystem.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the computer network comprises one from the group of a Local Area Network, a Wide Area Network, and the Internet.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving at the translation interface an event value associated with the event code; and    determining an electrical signal value based upon the event value.